Hi. I'm a painter, a writer and a mother of three teenage sons, one with a severe disability. This is a journal: riotously disorganized, full of art, food, children and everyday domestic events. Unless you are a friend or family member you may not be interested, but you are welcome to look. Artists who are parents may find some
common ground here, as well as parents of children with special needs. For art only, see my site: nancybeamiller.blogspot.com

Saturday, November 22

This is a work in progress, a portrait of my son Henry. I am calling it "Light Headed" for the way the light catches in his hair, and other reasons.

Wednesday, November 19

A quick study of boys swimming done at my friend Eliza's pool this summer. I was so frantic to paint, but with the boys on summer vacation I had very little studio time. So I filled a gardening bag with paints, an old folding palette, and scraps of gessoed wood and started toting it around wherever we went. When I got the chance I painted, even just for a few minutes. I wasn't worrying about results: I just needed to paint. This is 4 1/2 x 9 inches.

Here are Paul and the guys, snug as 4 bugs in a rug. TV is a great way to get all of them (except Henry) to stay still, and many artists swear by it as a posing aid, especially for children. I dislike the vacant expresion on a TV-watching face however.

Friday, November 7

A small oil sketch of boys fighting in the woods. One of those moments:the other parents ran over to intervene, and I ran over to take pictures. I did the sketch, thinking I'd rework it later. But I like it as it is, despite its roughness. So I guess I'll just think of it as notes for a larger piece. Is that when a sketch becomes a study? When the "big" picture it was used for is completed?

November

by Elsa Beskow

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The photographs on this site were taken with either a Canon EOS T3i, a Nikon D-70, an iPhone, or a Canon Powershot SD1000. For photo reproduction/purchase inquiries please contact me at nb (at) genrecookshop (dot) com